Magnetic missile device especially for playing games



April 1965 c. G. HARRISON ETAL 3,176,989

MAGNETIC MISSILE DEVICE ESPECIALLY FOR PLAYING GAMES Filed Feb. 26, 1962 j? mmfl w m 3a t HH A n vhh a .sso m r M 9 mw G mot F mm c m United States Patent Ofiice 3,176,989 MAGNETIC MISSILE DEVICE ESPECIALLY FOR PLAYING GAMES Clifford Gaitskell Harrison and Christopher John Harrison, both of West Malvern, England, assignors to H. J. Chapman & Company (Adglow) Limited, Ledbury, England, a British company Filed Feb. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 175,645 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Feb. 28, 1961, 7,211/ 61 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-106) The object of this invention is to provide a novel and fascinating device adapted to be thrown or projected as a missile towards a target such as a board and especially for playing games which may simulate ball games.

A further object is to provide such a device whereby damage to walls, furniture or the like or possible injury to persons is avoided or very considerably minimised.

In this specification the expression magnetic material is intended to mean material which is capable of being magnetised and whether magnetised or not is capable of being attracted by magnetised material.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a game embodying this invention and shown in use.

FIGURE 2 is a detail sectional View on an enlarged scale showing the action of a missile device on striking a surface and FIGURES 3 and 4 are face views also on an enlarged scale of suitable forms of missile device.

Referring to the drawings and for the purposes of the invention, rubber or a suitable synthetic plastic material in sheet form and containing or embodying magnetic ferrite powder is employed with advantage in the forming or construction of the devices or missiles 1.

Thus as shown the devices or missiles may consist of fiat rings 1 (FIGURES 1 to 3) or flat discs 1a (FIG- URE 4) or may be of other suitable shapes in sheet form of such material.

The sheet material is pliable or flexible so that when a ring 1 or disc 11a thereof is properly thrown against a flat surface such as that shown provided by a board 2 it strikes the latter with a dead or non-bouncing action so that the ring 1 or disc 1a asumes a flat disposition against the board. By having the ring 1 or disc 1a magnetised such contact enables the missile to adhere to the board 2 by magnetic attraction substantially at the striking point.

The board 2 may be employed in a vertical position egg. on a wall although for assisting magnetic adhesion it preferably has a slight rearward inclination and may embody a preferably foldable strut 3 so as to be self standing as shown or for spacing the lower part of the board 2 a distance from a wall when hung on the latter.

The board 2 may consist of a sheet of ferrous metal such as tinned sheet iron or may consist of thin board or paper backed with such magnetic material. Alternatively paper board or cardboard may be employed which has been treated with ferrite or other suitable material so 3,176,989 Patented Apr. 6, 1955 Thus by way of example and as shown the board 2 may be printed to simulate the holes 4 of a game of golf, each hole 4 being represented by a separate area defined on the board and over which the ring 1 or missile must be positioned by skillful throwing of the latter.

If desired only certain areas such as scoring areas of the board '2 or the like may be of magnetic or magnetised material or backed therewith so that adhesion is only obtained when a missile is correctly thrown. However, since it is usually evident from the position of the missile 1 on the board 2 as to whether a correct throw has been made, a board 2 with a fully magnetic or magnetised surface is preferred so that adhesion contact is obtained at any point thereon and the inconvenience of missiles 1 dropping to the floor largely avoided.

As well as the simulation of various ball games such as football, cricket and the like it will be appreciated that adaptations of other games may be readily provided by means of this invention. Thus the game of ring board may be followed, the magnetic adhesion replacing the ring and hook engagement whilst, with a far greater degree of safety as regards damage or injury, the game of darts may be simulated by means of an appropriately marked board.

In addition to the above it will be realised that numerous new and other games or uses may be devised incorporating the invention in which the missile or missiles 1 or 1a are either thrown manually or projected'or directed by any suitable means e.g. by shooting from a gun or the like.

We claim:

1. A magnetic missile device of the character described consisting of a member of pliable rubber sheet material of substantially uniform thickness and embodying in the composition of said sheet material in a homogeneous manner magnetised ferrite powder, the degree of magnetic attraction of the ferrite powder being so related to the degree of pliability of said sheet material as to cause magnetic adhesion of the missile to a surface of non-magnetised magnetic material when incident thereon at a substantial acute angle thereto.

2. A magnetic missile device of the character described consisting of a member of pliable synthetic plastic sheet material of substantially uniform thickness and embodying in the composition of said sheet material in a homogeneous manner magnetised ferrite powder, the degree of magnetic attraction of the ferrite powder being so related to the degree of pliability of said sheet material as to cause magnetic adhesion of the missile to a surface of nonmagnetised magnetic material when incident thereon at a substantial acute angle thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,158,368 5/39 Hurt. 2,600,951 6/52 Edwards 273-152.l X 2,634,982 4/53 Gaede 273-106 X 2,657,059 10/53 Selig 273-137 X 3,026,110 3/62 Hess et a1 273-106 X 3,093,919 6/63 Holtz 273-137 X FOREIGN PATENTS 479,348 1/38 Great Britain.

'DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. JOHN M. HORAN, Examiner. 

1. A MAGNETIC MISSILE DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED CONSISTING OF A MEMBER OF PLIABLE RUBBER SHEET MATERIAL OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM THICKNESS AND EMBODYING IN THE COMPOSITION OF SAID SHEET MATERIAL IN A HOMOGENEOUS MANNER MAGNETISED FERRITE POWDER, THE DEGREE OF MAGNETIC ATTRACTION OF THE FERRITE POWDER BEING SO RELATED TO THE DEGREE OF PLIABILITY OF SAID SHEET MATERIAL AS TO CAUSE MAGNETIC ADHESION OF THE MISSLE TO A SURFACE OF NON-MAGNETISED MAGNETIC MATERIAL INCIDENT THEREON AT A SUBSTANTIAL ACUTE ANGLE THERETO. 